The Jets' disastrous 2012 season has soured many fans on Rex Ryan's coaching future. But a number of legendary NFL coaches have had multiple seasons with double-digit losses—and a few have even gone on to win the Super Bowl.

Since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978, 10 coaches with at least 100 wins and a Super Bowl ring also lost 10 or more games at least twice, according to Stats LLC. Ryan, whose 10-loss season this year was his first in four seasons, doesn't have to look far for an example. His MetLife Stadium co-tenant, Tom Coughlin, made the postseason four straight years as the Jaguars' head coach. Like Ryan, he even took his team to the conference championship twice, only to lose. Then three straight 10-loss seasons followed. Coughlin ended up with the Giants, found his quarterback in Eli Manning and beat Tom Brady and Bill Belichick for the Lombardi Trophy—twice.

Another ex-Giants (and Jets) coach, Bill Parcells, also won a Super Bowl after finishing 3-12-1 in 1983, though that was his first season coaching. That year, he badly mismanaged the quarterback situation, benching Phil Simms for Scott Brunner. He later took the Patriots to the Super Bowl, falling to Green Bay, after two more double-digit-loss seasons. Besides Coughlin and Parcells, three other coaches since 1978 shook off double-digit-loss seasons to win the Super Bowl—Belichick, Dick Vermeil and Bill Cowher.

None of this means Ryan (34-30 in his career) is ticketed for coaching greatness. But one bad season doesn't necessarily rule it out. And there's no discounting the chance a coaching change may actually end up being best for Ryan. After all, Coughlin, Belichick and Vermeil all won their Super Bowls with new teams—and new quarterbacks.

Here are Super Bowl-winning coaches with 100-plus career wins who lost 10 games or more multiple times (since 1978).

Salfino does a good job. He always researches his articles to the absolute extreme before writing.

01-04-2013, 09:14 AM

skipper

Could not agree more with the sentiments expressed in this article. Ryan is still learning and it would be a shame for us to can him after he has served his apprenticeship on our dime. What he needs is a good OC and a GM who can distinguish talent.

01-04-2013, 09:33 AM

Mainejet

This article make way too much sense for anybody on this board to want to read.

Message to all Rex haters...

STFU

01-04-2013, 09:46 AM

houyx

Good article that puts things in perspective for melodramatic Jets fans here.

01-04-2013, 10:09 AM

BrowningNagle

For me anyway its not that the team went 6-10 its the way it has regressed and the severe limitations Rex has shown as more of a DC than a HC....

01-04-2013, 10:22 AM

chiefst2000

How many of those other coaches had a tatoo of their wife wearing nothing but their starting QB's jersey?

01-04-2013, 10:25 AM

Rich Caster

The missing Key Point is that the other coaches mentioned did not brag that they were better, smarter, had better players, the best mind in football, ect... Rex is the laughing stock of the NFL , bottom of the barrel teams enjoy kicking his teams Butt over and over again.

01-04-2013, 11:36 AM

Batmans A Scientist

This is pretty stupid. Good coaches can have bad seasons, sure. But Bad coaches have multiple bad seasons.

This aligns with the Mark Sanchez had similar numbers to Eli Manning through 3 seasons, so things should work out. Problem is, he also had similar numbers to Joey Harrington and Kyle Boller.

01-04-2013, 12:05 PM

BamaJets

Quote:

Originally Posted by Batmans A Scientist

This is pretty stupid. Good coaches can have bad seasons, sure. But Bad coaches have multiple bad seasons.

This aligns with the Mark Sanchez had similar numbers to Eli Manning through 3 seasons, so things should work out. Problem is, he also had similar numbers to Joey Harrington and Kyle Boller.

Yes, we know that. Did you not read the last paragraph?

"None of this means Ryan (34-30 in his career) is ticketed for coaching greatness. But one bad season doesn't necessarily rule it out. And there's no discounting the chance a coaching change may actually end up being best for Ryan. After all, Coughlin, Belichick and Vermeil all won their Super Bowls with new teams—and new quarterbacks."

01-04-2013, 12:15 PM

Vinny Testaverde's Niece

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich Caster

The missing Key Point is that the other coaches mentioned did not brag that they were better, smarter, had better players, the best mind in football, ect... Rex is the laughing stock of the NFL , bottom of the barrel teams enjoy kicking his teams Butt over and over again.

Rex has never bragged about himself. Ever. What coach wouldn't and shouldn't brag about his players? The legend and myth making continues.

01-04-2013, 12:45 PM

Rob0729

This article is very misleading. Many of the coaches he list having multiple 10 loss seasons need clarification with them.

Yes, Chuck Noll had two seasons where he lost 10 or more games, but that was in the mid-80s after the Steelers Curtain Defense rusted away and the team declined exponentially and he was a mediocre coach for his final 10 years.

As for Belichick, two of his 10+ loss seasons were his first years in both Cleveland and New England and the other one was his last year in Cleveland where the team and fans quit because it was announced that they were moving to Baltimore midseason.

Both of Holmgren's 10+ loss seasons were in Seattle and not Green Bay.

Two of the three 10+ loss seasons for Shanahan were in Washington, not Denver. And the one in Denver was the first year post Elway when they were trying to find a new QB.

Both Gibbs' 10+ loss seasons came when he came back to the NFL in 2004 where it was clear that the game had started to pass him by.

I agree with the general premise that one bad season doesn't mean that Ryan or any other coach may be a bad coach, but I disagree with the evidence they back it up with. Guys like Noll and Gibbs got their 10+ loss seasons after their stars started to dim, not early in their head coaching careers. There is no comparison to Ryan's situation. Same with Belichick considering two of the three 10+ losing seasons were in clear rebuilding years where he inherited a mess and the other was the most unique season in NFL history.

01-04-2013, 12:46 PM

Batmans A Scientist

Quote:

Originally Posted by BamaJets

Yes, we know that. Did you not read the last paragraph?

"None of this means Ryan (34-30 in his career) is ticketed for coaching greatness. But one bad season doesn't necessarily rule it out. And there's no discounting the chance a coaching change may actually end up being best for Ryan. After all, Coughlin, Belichick and Vermeil all won their Super Bowls with new teams—and new quarterbacks."

Fair enough, I didn't finish. I actually think Rex can be a very good head coach, but I'm not really convinced it will happen with the Jets.

01-04-2013, 12:49 PM

Savage69

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob0729

This article is very misleading. Many of the coaches he list having multiple 10 loss seasons need clarification with them.

Yes, Chuck Noll had two seasons where he lost 10 or more games, but that was in the mid-80s after the Steelers Curtain Defense rusted away and the team declined exponentially and he was a mediocre coach for his final 10 years.

As for Belichick, two of his 10+ loss seasons were his first years in both Cleveland and New England and the other one was his last year in Cleveland where the team and fans quit because it was announced that they were moving to Baltimore midseason.

Both of Holmgren's 10+ loss seasons were in Seattle and not Green Bay.

Two of the three 10+ loss seasons for Shanahan were in Washington, not Denver. And the one in Denver was the first year post Elway when they were trying to find a new QB.

Both Gibbs' 10+ loss seasons came when he came back to the NFL in 2004 where it was clear that the game had started to pass him by.

I agree with the general premise that one bad season doesn't mean that Ryan or any other coach may be a bad coach, but I disagree with the evidence they back it up with. Guys like Noll and Gibbs got their 10+ loss seasons after their stars started to dim, not early in their head coaching careers. There is no comparison to Ryan's situation. Same with Belichick considering two of the three 10+ losing seasons were in clear rebuilding years where he inherited a mess and the other was the most unique season in NFL history.

In short when they had bad QB play they lost..;)

01-04-2013, 01:11 PM

Rob0729

Quote:

Originally Posted by Savage69

In short when they had bad QB play they lost..;)

Unfortunately for head coaches with starting QBs not named Manning, Brady, RGIII, Luck, Brees, Rodgers, and a few others; that is probably the truth about most head coaches.

01-04-2013, 01:41 PM

Batmans A Scientist

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob0729

Unfortunately for head coaches with starting QBs not named Manning, Brady, RGIII, Luck, Brees, Rodgers, and a few others; that is probably the truth about most head coaches.

If anything, that shows Rex's worth. Again, I'm on the fence about him. I'd be fine with him getting fired, but I believe that he is a pretty good coach, and can be a great one. There are plenty of coaches that are worse in the NFL, and plenty that would have done worse than 6-10 with the Offense they have.

01-04-2013, 01:42 PM

Spectre

The Jets sticking with Ryan as their HC is a good thing.

- For the Patriots-

:eek:

01-04-2013, 02:30 PM

GreenReaper

Rex has to recognize that he needs help and guidance in managing the QB position and the offense. Hopefully this comes from his new GM...OC and QB coach, as well as any other outside consultant types, that are brought in on these matters.

If there's ever going to be a workable marriage for both Rex and the new GM... that goes beyond the 2013 season. It's going to depend on how open Rex is to learning from these others.

As I've said before...I have mixed feeling about Rex. But a big positive for me, is that I still feel Rex can beat Belichick and Brady's Pats. If he's given the talent...especially at QB, and with a more complementary offense.

IMO...no matter who is HC of the Jets in 2013...it's not likely the Jets are going to end up in the playoffs. And another 4-7 win season is a more realistic landing point. So W-L may not be what is going to persuade the new GM, on whether Rex should stay or go. It may be more on how Rex is coaching...handling the team and its problems. How hard the team is playing. How responsive Rex is to input from the GM and others. And of course...whether the GM and Rex share the same vision and course of action...moving forward from 2013.